RBS - Direct Line Conveyancing Panel Information

The information on this page is designed to keep solicitors and licensed conveyancers abreast of latest requirements changes by RBS - Direct Line and to assist in remaining on the RBS - Direct Line Conveyancing Panel.

RBS - Direct Line Conveyancing Panel: Recently Asked Questions

Do the Council of Mortgage Lenders intend to launch a online directory search tool with a view to list practices on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel?
We are not aware of any intention on the part of the CML to develop such a search facility.

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Is it true that the Law Society has recommended that firms check their status on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel?
The Law Society of Scotland has advised that solicitors should check their panel status with lenders before accepting client instructions to act. The advice is lender-agnostic as it does not relate specifically to solicitors on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel. The recommendation arises from the practice of a number of mortgage lenders who remove solicitors from their panels without prior notice as part of their panel management system, which can lead to some solicitors discovering this only once instructed. This is sensible advice as a client finding out midway through a transaction that their lawyer is not on the approved lender panel is very frustrating and can lead to complaints. Many online consumer forums contain posts where someone is complaining about finding that their lawyer is not on a lender conveyancing panel. Such forums include moneysavingexpert.com
What obligations do I have, being on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel, to carry out a LMO4 search?
RBS - Direct Line make no specific obligation to carry out any of the searches listed. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook simply states that ‘you must ensure that any other searches which may be appropriate to the particular property, taking into account its locality and other features are carried out’.

Please note that most ‘less usual searches’ (as described in the Law Society’s Conveyancing Handbook) are not optional as far as RBS - Direct Line are concerned if they are ‘appropriate’. Most lenders will not require environmental searches (you should Check Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook to be sure), but you are obliged to explain risks and availability to the borrower.

Ground stability, Plansearch,flood searches as well as the searches listed in the question are optional – but only to the extent that you have allowed the borrower client to make an informed choice. Regardless of whether there is a mortgage, If you have not advised the client that these (and other) searches are available and what risks they cover, then you will be liable if the client suffers loss through not conducting one. Is this covered within your Terms of Engagement or Report on Title?

A leading search provider lists over 65 conveyancing searches – do you know what all of them are and when they may be relevant? If you are unsure as to which searches are appropriate based on location call your search provider or call one of the leading search companies such as Searchflow.

Can you give me an example of some of the reports available via COMPLETIONmonitor to support my appeal to be reinstated on the RBS - Direct Line solicitor panel?
There are many reports available, five of which are as follows:
  • Number of conveyancing cases by lender
  • Buy to Let transactions
  • Disclosure/Notification to Lender analysis indicating frequency and nature of disclosures - to include benchmarking analysis against aggregate data
  • The percentage of the firm’s business which is conveyancing (broken down into sale/purchase and remortgage)
  • Average time frame to send deeds to the lender (calculated from completion date or title registration)
Where can I find the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel obligations in respect of Transfer of Equity Conveyancing?
RBS - Direct Line approved solicitors have to comply with the Part II instructions relating to Transfer of Equity. These are set out in Section 16.3. First, your firm must approve the form of Transfer of Equity (which should be in the Land Registry's standard form) and, if RBS - Direct Line require, the deed of covenant on their behalf. You will need to check RBS - Direct Line CML Part 2 conditions to see if RBS - Direct Line have standard forms of transfer and deed of covenant. Please note that this requirement can change from one transaction to another so do check! Second,When drafting or approving a transfer, you should bear in mind that: although the transfer should state that it is subject to the mortgage (identified by date and parties), it need give no details of the terms of the mortgage; the transfer need not state the amount of the mortgage debt. If it does, the figure should include both principal and interest at the date of completion, which you must check ; there should be no statement that all interest has been paid to date. Further obligations are set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook which have to be followed by all firms on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel
My firm has just been advised that it’s RBS - Direct Line panel membership suspended but we have not yet been given a reason as to why. I am completing a CQS renewal questionnaire what information should I report?
In the circumstances please clarify on the application what steps you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your RBS - Direct Line panel status. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before termination of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender putting you on notice?
I am on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel and all set to complete a purchase shortly. I can not locate a Mortgage Deed for the client to execute. Who do I contact at RBS - Direct Line to request substitute deeds?
You would be advised to communicate with RBS - Direct Line to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook incorporates an express section for banks to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. RBS - Direct Line in their Part 2’s state:
Don’t forget to disclose your RBS - Direct Line solicitors panel reference.

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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of RBS - Direct Line
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
YearDays*
2025 [no data]
2024 [no data]
2023 [no data]
2022 [no data]
2021 [no data]
2020 [no data]
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor